Eight man players start checking in

“We are happy to be back in Miami,” Mike Thompson, executive director of the OEMFCA, said during a luncheon for coaches and counselors in the Coleman Theatre ballroom. “It’s always a great time. We will have a great game. We are looking forward to it. We enjoy our time up here.”

Eighty players will hold their first workout Tuesday afternoon. They will also hold practices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Red Robertson Field.

“This is year 15 now in Miami and 46th overall that we’ve had it,” Thompson said. “We want to thank the group at NEO A&M, Dr. (Jeff) Hale, Coach (Clay) Patterson and NEO football for allowing us to come up and use the facilities and the dorms.”

The game was played in Alva from 1973 to 2002, at Northeastern A&M from 2003-06, at Commerce from 2007-09, at NEO in 2010-12 at Commerce in 2013 and again at Red Robertson Field starting in 2014 following its multi-million dollar renovation.

Tuesday primarily was a day for player check-in and orientation. Alternates will be called if players picked for the game are no-shows.

Swimming at the Miami Municipal Pool will follow a dinner at Riverview Park, hosted by the Miami Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs.

Wednesday’s schedule includes practice, a press conference, player pictures, a combine conducted by the NEO coaching staff and an evening of entertainment at the Coleman.

Players will have an afternoon of down time on Thursday before one of the week’s highlights, a performance by a hypnotist at the Miami Friends Church.

A round of golf for coaches and counselors, bowling with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa County and the annual awards banquet at the Calcagno Family Ballroom in NEO’s Carter Student Union are on tap for Friday.

A record crowd is expected for the banquet. Person wishing to attend should call the Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau at 918-542-4435.

Cheerleaders for the game also will check in Friday morning.

Teams will have pre-game walk-throughs Saturday morning at Robertson Field.

Pregame activities begin at 4:30 p.m. with the game kicking off at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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